Humoral immune response after post-chemotherapy booster diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in pediatric oncology patients.
BACKGROUND
The role of post-chemotherapy booster vaccination in pediatric oncology children remains to be established. In this randomized controlled study, we studied the effect of immune responses to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) booster vaccination in children 6 months after completing chemotherapy.


METHODS
Children 1-18 years old with chemotherapy completed for 6 months (baseline) were eligible. Subjects were randomized into vaccine and control group. In the former, three doses of DTP vaccine (Aventis Pasteur Inc., Lyon, France) were administered. IgG antibody titers against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies were measured serially in vaccine and control groups. Subsets of circulating lymphocytes (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), and CD16/56(+)) were quantified by flow cytometry using fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies.


RESULTS
Fifty-six children (28 vaccinees; 28 controls) were enrolled. Protective antibody levels against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis were found at baseline in 83.6%, 96.5%, 96.1% of them respectively. After three doses of DTP, all vaccinees demonstrated a sustain rise in antibody levels and the antibody titers were significantly higher than control group. 35.8% of subjects were susceptible to measles mumps and rubella infection and 69% showed anti-HBs antibody titer less than protective level up to 18 months after stopping chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-chemotherapy booster vaccinations produced a strong and sustained effect in humoral immunity against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.
Cheng
Frankie Wai Tsoi
FW
Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong. frankiecheng@cuhk.edu.hk
Leung
Ting Fan
TF
Chan
Paul Kay Sheung
PK
Lee
Vincent
V
Shing
Ming Kong
MK
Chik
Ki Wai
KW
Yuen
Patrick Man Pan
PM
Li
Chi Kong
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
D000906:Antibodies; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine